Thursday, 19 January 2012

Has Your Purchasing Increased Since You Started Reading Beauty Blogs?

I was inspired to write this post just after Christmas when someone mentioned to me that they were fed up of purchasing things for their skin that never worked and that they ended up shelling out a fortune for them. This got me thinking as to whether, as readers or writers of beauty blogs, if we end up spending more now than we did previously or are our purchases now more informed?

I guess, if you are interested in beauty products and beauty blogging, it can go one of two ways. There are so many new releases and products coming out all the time! Mac comes out with a new collection several times a month and we were seeing the Spring 2012 collections start to appear at counters before Christmas! When products are limited edition, it makes us feel that we need to buy them instantly, otherwise we may miss the boat. Consequently, we end up purchasing products that we don’t really need, and that we are not sure whether will work for us, in the fear that once they are sold out, we will never be able to find anything like that product again. Until the next limited edition product comes along that is….

On the other hand, if you take the time to read a lot of blogs about various beauty products, their benefits and understand whether they might work for you, you may end up making a more informed choice and end up purchasing fewer, but better quality, products that will really work.

I guess I am in the middle camp. Since I started blogging and even prior to that, when I was only reading blogs and not commenting or participating in discussion, I have become much more aware of product availability and what is out there. I used to purchase a multitude of magazines each month just to see what was new and hurriedly race to my nearest Boots in my lunch hour to get my hands on what Glamour magazine deemed to be the latest beauty must-have!

These days, I hope I can see through the hype and realise that, yes, that nail polish is a very pretty limited edition colour but I already have several similar ones and no, matte black polish doesn’t suit me and just makes me look like a goth! I can now read blogs and opinions of what works for people with a similar skin type or skintone to me and see real-life swatches to help me make an informed purchase. I do however have a wider variety of products on my ‘to-buy’ list and that is purely through the reading of blogs, especially with some of the smaller, niche brands. Many brands do not have the budget to advertise in glossy magazines and for them, blogs are an essential part of their marketing strategy (although this is venturing into a whole different topic…).

Has your beauty product purchasing changed since you started reading or writing a blog?

Do you now feel more informed when buying products or does the sheer amount of choice you are now aware of mean your purchasing has skyrocketed?

7 comments:

I agree that it can infact change how you spend, but for me it made me actually realise that I don't shop as often as I thought I did. Before blogging I thought I was so bad with how much I shopped, but since starting blogging and seeing others post hauls weekly I realised that I'm not that bad. I tend to save up for more 'luxury' items that I may or may not have heard of from a blog but I only typically buy them if I know i'll use it.

I definitely buy more beauty products; I didn't even have to think about that answer for a split second! I agree that a lot of my spending is now more informed and I see beauty products featured in magazines in a completely different light. Before they were the "holy grail", now I don't trust them as easily anymore. Having said that, my curiosity for new products has also reawakened and I found that same enthusiasm I had for make-up and beauty products that I had in my early teens when I was only starting to discover them - only that now I have more money to spend!

I probably buy more cheaper brands now! Having come across Maybelline Gel Eyeliner featured on several blogs I now seek out cheaper brand which are just as good as the top brands. I am now a lover of Superdrug - you get so much more for your money! Great post! x

Zara - Yes, I think it sometimes puts your spending habbits into perspective. I tend to go through phases of buying lots then hardly anything for a couple of months. I don't know how some people manage it!

Emma - If I read a glowing review I often think I just have to have it then and there. I usually leave it for a few days and if I still remember it, then I know I need it but 9/10 I've moved onto the next product I am lusting after!

Chrissy - I think the internet has affected our spending, especially over the past 5 years or so. When I was a teenager, I used to read magazines and then have to actually make an effort to go to a shop to seek out and buy what I had read about. Now, you can read about something and purchase it within a minute! Although you do have to wait a couple of days for it to arrive by post, it does make everything much more accessible.

Sandra - I agree, I have found a lot of hidden gems from cheaper brands and Superdrug is a good example. Previously I used to take one step into Superdrug, see the makeup stands looking as if a toddler had run amock in them, and then leave as I couldn't face it! But now I know there are many excellent products there, they just need to be uncovered.

Interesting post! Although since reading blogs I have bought more expensive products, I probably buy less and better quality. Now I have a restricted number of products that I use and trust. I also agree with Zara that I have realised my spending is not that bad at all! I wonder how some bloggers fund their daily hauls!